Re: [Harp-L] Positions are not modes - they are keys with multiple possible scales

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Positions are NOT modes.

Positions are keys. 

Some of the modes have default modes - the notes you get when you play unbent notes. However, this is true only of the seven notes of the major scale that are built into the harp. And these scales can be altered by bending to create any scale you want in that position. 

For the five notes of the chromatic scale that are not built into the harp, the position does not have a mode related to the key of the harp. For instance, if you play in 11th position (Bb on a C harp), the tonic note of the scale is a bend. This does not relate to a mode of the C major scale. 

Why is this distinction important?

People do play major scales in positions that don't produce them by default, like second and third.

People do play in the positions that don't have an unbent tonic note - check out Chris Michalek's work in 11th position, for instance, or Howard Levy's work in positions like 10th (Eb on a D harp) or 8th (Db on a C harp).

And yes, people do play in 11th position, and 7th, and some of the other extre

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Thu, 1/14/10, Jim Rumbaugh <jrumbaug@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Jim Rumbaugh <jrumbaug@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Modes, keys and positions (breath patterns correlated)
To: "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>, geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 5:55 AM

I gotta put in my 2 cents.

Positions are modes... but then you gotta know what a mode is.

A" beginner" explanation is...

First position start on 4 blow and work your way up the harp

Second position start on 2 draw or 3 blow and work your way up.

Third position start on 4 draw ..

Fourth position start on 6 draw ....

Fifth position start on 2 blow ..

That's enough for now. After you play these for a while, you'll get the idea of what they are about.

A beginner should play Summertime in 4th position with the first 3 notes 8blow 7blow 8 blow. The tune can then be played with no bends or "tricks", but it's high on the harp and lots of guys don't like to play it up there. If you use a G harp, you would be playing in E minor in 4th position,

----- Original Message ----- From: "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 2:43 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Modes, keys and positions (breath patterns correlated)


> Geoff, You ask the following:
> 
> OK , really dumb question, please excuse my ignorance, but
> is a "position" not a physical location, as in:
> "position your lips to blow on hole 4"
> but rather the sequence of blowing and drawing as one moves across  the harp?
> 
> Let's take at random say Gershwin's "Summer time".
> In what position is it best played, on which harp?
> 
> 
> My answers:
> 
> I have never been able to correlate a harmonica "position" with a physical location on the harp.  I mean, i know where to locate the degrees of the scale on which holes in which position, but there's no numerical correlation between the designation of the position and  which hole you use to start the scale in that particular position.
> 
> Personally, I would use Fifth Position to play "Summertime"  but a  lot of players use Third.  it can be played in either of these  positions.
> 
> When i play, i will  use First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and  Twelfth positions, depending on which position i need to use in order  to be able to play on a particular tune. I am more comfortable in  some of these positions than others but I can and do use any of them  as the need arises. However, I don't OB.
> 
> Btw, there are certain breath patterns common to these positions,  which are useful to know:
> 
> The major pentatonic scale in FIRST position is the same breath  pattern as the minor pentatonic scale in FOURTH position. Same notes,  same intervals, just start on a different hole.
> The major pentatonic scale in SECOND position is the same breath  pattern as minor pentatonic scale in FIFTH position. Same notes, same  intervals, just start on a different hole.
> The minor pentatonic scale in THIRD position is the same breath  pattern as the major pentatonic scale in TWELFTH position. Same  notes, same intervals, just start on a different hole.
> 
> So, if you learn these 3 breath patterns and learn the blues scale in second position, you should be able to get around well enough in 6 different positions to be able
> 
> improvise if you've got a good enough ear.
> 
> 
> JP
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